Development Status and Regional Differences of japonica Rice Quality in the Yangtze River Delta Region from 2002 to 2022

doi:10.16819/j.1001-7216.2025.240408

Abstract

Abstract:

【Objective】The aim of this study is to analyze and understand the development status of japonica rice quality in the Yangtze River Delta region of China, as well as the differences of rice qualities among Anhui, Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces. 【Method】After collecting a total of 11 310 japonica rice varieties grown in Jiangsu, Anhui, and Zhejiang provinces between 2002 and 2022, grain length, length-to-width ratio, brown rice rate, milled rice rate, head rice rate, chalkiness, chalky grain rate, transparency, apparent amylose content, gel consistency, alkali spreading value and protein content were analyzed. Principal component analysis was carried out to explore the quality characteristics of japonica rice cultivated in Anhui, Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces. 【Results】The results revealed that the grain shape and head rice rate of japonica rice planted in Jiangsu Province were relatively stable during 2002−2022. The chalkiness level fluctuated between 3.06% and 4.93% from 2002 to 2019, and their average value and variation range decreased significantly from 2020 to 2022. The average apparent amylose content in 2012 and 2013 decreased by approximately 2% than the last year, and eventually stabilized between 13.2% and 14.8%. In Zhejiang Province, the grain shape of japonica rice gradually shifted towards longer grains since 2012. The head rice rate exhibited a zigzag pattern, with higher annual averages occurring between 2011 and 2014, and lowers between 2018 and 2022. The chalkiness level showed a zigzag fluctuation from 2002 to 2006, peaked between 2007 and 2015, and then gradually declined in 2016−2018 and 2019−2022. Except for the period from 2013 to 2017, the average apparent amylose content fluctuated between 15.3% and 16.8%, and japonica rice varieties with lower apparent amylose content emerged since 2016. In Anhui Province, the grain shape of japonica rice began to shift towards longer grains from 2020. The decline in head rice rate could be clearly divided into three stages: 2003−2009, 2010−2014, and 2018−2022. The chalkiness level initially rose and then fell, peaking between 2008 and 2014. The apparent amylose content undergone two distinct stages: a period of significant fluctuations from 2002 to 2012, followed by a phase of minor fluctuations and stabilization from 2013 to 2022. The high quality rate of transparency exceeded 80% in most years across all three provinces. Other indicators such as protein content, brown rice rate, milled rice rate, alkali spreading value, and gel consistency did not show significant differences among japonica rice varieties cultivated in the Yangtze River Delta region. 【Conclusions】The quality of japonica rice in the Yangtze River Delta is gradually improving in appearance and palatability. The japonica rice in Jiangsu Province had shorter grain length, lower apparent amylose content and longer gel consistency with excellent processing and appearance qualities. The japonica rice in Zhejiang Province had poor appearance and processing quality, with the grain shape gradually becoming longer and gel consistency and alkali spreading value being relatively small. Anhui Province is intermediate between Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces in grain shape and other quality traits.

Key words: Yangtze River Delta region, japonica rice, grain shape, head rice rate, chalkiness, apparent amylose content

摘要：

【目的】分析并了解我国长三角地区粳稻品质发展状况及其在安徽省、江苏省和浙江省三个地区间的差异性。【方法】收集了2002−2022年种植于江苏省、安徽省和浙江省的粳稻样品共计11,310份，检测并分析了稻米的粒长、长宽比、糙米率、精米率、整精米率、垩白度、垩白粒率、透明度、表观直链淀粉含量、胶稠度、碱消值和蛋白质含量等指标，并采用主成分分析法挖掘了不同地区粳稻的品质特点。【结果】江苏省粳稻粒型和整精米率在2002−2022年间的变化比较稳定；垩白度在2002−2019年在3.06%~4.93%范围内波动，其平均值和波动范围均在2020−2022年大幅减少；年平均表观直链淀粉含量在2012和2013年较上年下降了约2%，最后稳定在13.2%~14.8%。浙江省粳稻的粒型从2012年开始逐渐向长粒粳稻的方向发展；整精米率呈锯齿形变化，年平均值在2011−2014年较高，2018−2022年较低；垩白度在2002−2006年呈锯齿状波动，2007−2015年达到高位后，于2016−2018年和2019−2022年逐步下降；除2013−2017年外，年平均表观直链淀粉含量在15.3%~16.8%范围内波动，并于2016年开始出现一批低表观直链淀粉含量的粳稻品种。安徽省粳稻的粒型从2020年开始向长粒型方向发展；整精米率的下降可明显划分为三个阶段（2003−2009年、2010−2014年、2018−2022年）；垩白度呈先上升后下降并进一步降低的趋势，2008−2014年较高；表观直链淀粉含量分两个发展阶段，第一阶段为2002−2012年的大幅波动阶段，第二阶段为2013−2022年的小幅波动并趋于稳定的阶段。三个省份透明度的达标率在大多数年份均达到80%。蛋白质含量、糙米率、精米率、碱消值和胶稠度等指标在长三角地区种植的粳稻品种间差异较小。【结论】长三角地区的粳稻品质逐渐朝着外观品质和食味品质优良的方向发展。江苏省的粳稻粒长较短，加工品质和外观品质较好，直链淀粉含量较低，胶稠度较长；浙江省的粳稻外观品质和加工品质欠佳，粒型逐渐变长，胶稠度和碱消值偏小；安徽省的粳稻粒型及其他各项品质指标介于江苏省和浙江省之间。

关键词: 长三角地区, 粳稻, 粒型, 整精米率, 垩白度, 表观直链淀粉含量

SHAO Yafang, ZHU Dawei, ZHENG Xin, MOU Renxiang, ZHANG Linping, CHEN Mingxue. Development Status and Regional Differences of japonica Rice Quality in the Yangtze River Delta Region from 2002 to 2022[J]. Chinese Journal OF Rice Science, 2025, 39(2): 264-276.

邵雅芳, 朱大伟, 郑欣, 牟仁祥, 章林平, 陈铭学. 2002−2022长三角地区粳稻品质发展状况和地域差异性分析[J]. 中国水稻科学, 2025, 39(2): 264-276.

Figures/Tables 7

Table 1. Statistics and analysis of brown rice rate, polished rice rate, alkali spreading value and gel consistency of japonica rice in Yangtze River Delta area of China during 2002−2022

省份参数 Province Parameter		糙米率 Brown rice rate (%)	精米率 Polished rice rate (%)	碱消值 Alkali spreading value(grade)	胶稠度 Gel consistency (mm)
安徽 Anhui	平均值±标准差Mean±SD	83.0±0.5 b	74.4±0.9 b	6.8±0.1 a	72.4±3.7 ab
	极值Extrema	82.2~84.1	72.4~76.4	6.4~7.0	63.4~79.5
	变异系数Variable coefficient(%)	0.6	1.2	1.8	5.2
江苏 Jiangsu	平均值±标准差Mean±SD	83.9±0.6 a	75.4±1.0 a	6.8±0.1 a	73.8±2.9 a
	极值Extrema	82.6~84.8	73.3~76.7	6.6~6.9	68.2~77.6
	变异系数Variable coefficient(%)	0.8	1.3	1.4	4.0
浙江 Zhejiang	平均值±标准差Mean±SD	82.8±0.4 b	73.7±0.7 c	6.7±0.1 b	70.1±2.7 b
	极值 Extrema	82.2~83.7	72.4~75.0	6.4~7.0	65.9~76.5
	变异系数Variable coefficient(%)	0.5	1.0	2.2	3.9

Fig. 1. Statistical analysis of head rice rate and grain shape of japonica rice in the Yangtze River Delta region of China from 2002 to 2022

Fig. 2. Statistical analysis of chalkiness degree (A, C, E, G) and chalky grain percentage (B, D, F, H) of japonica rice in the Yangtze River Delta region of China from 2002 to 2022

Fig. 3. Statistical analysis of transparency of japonica rice in the Yangtze River Delta region of China from 2002 to 2022

Fig. 4. Statistical analysis of apparent amylose content of japonica rice in the Yangtze River Delta region from 2002 to 2022

Fig. 5. Statistical analysis of protein content of japonica rice in the Yangtze River Delta region of China from 2002 to 2022

Fig. 6. Principal component analysis of regional differences of japonica rice quality in the Yangtze River Delta region of China from 2002 to 2022

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